Improvement in brick-kilns



"L'BLUM. BRICK-2:11.11.

Patented Feb. 8,1876.

Vr/ l/I/ //l I] IIII ///l /////l III/I I WITNESSES N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITMOGHAPIIER. WASNINGTON. I10.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH BLUM, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS.

. IMPROVEMENT m BRICIQOKILNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 173,108, dated February 8, 1876; application filed January 20, 1876.

To all whom wit-may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BLUM', of Wilmette, in the count 1 of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Brick-Kilns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawiug forming a part of this specification, an'd'in which Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a brick-kiln embodying my invention Fig. 2 represents an end view of the same; Fig. 3 represents a general plan or top view of the grate employed; and Fig. 4 a cross-section of the same.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

My invention has for its object to improve the brick-kiln for which Letters Patent were granted to me on the 11th day of January, 1876, and consists in the arrangement of the fire-grate so as to form a draft-flue beneath it, extending inward toward the center of the kiln, and provided with a hinged damper, ar-

ranged to be opened or closed at will, whereby the current of air is admitted to the center of the fuel-supply flue, or caused to pass upward through the grate, as may be required.

In the drawing, A represents the kiln, which is made in the usual manner, and provided with fuel-supply flues B, extending through the same.

(J O are sheet-metal doors, secured to the ends of the kiln by guides or ways a a, located on opposite sides of the fuel-supply flues, as shown in Fig. 2.

D D are the grates, each consisting of two metal plates 0 0, provided with longitudinal openings b, and hinged at their outer sides to This damper is so arrangedas to admit of the grate, thus closing the inner end ofthe draft-flue, when the current of air previously passing to the center of the kiln is caused to ascend through the grate, thusclosin'g the mouth of the fuel-supply flue.

with the dampers, located as described, I am enabled to control the amount and course of the draft so as toobtain the required uniform degree of heat, and am also enabled to use coal instead. of wood, thereby'rendering the process of burning brick much cheaper than with the ordinary arrangement of flues.

Having thus described the nature and object of my invention, what I claimas new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The hinged grate D, arranged to form the draft-flue E,.in combination with the fuels'upply flue B and door 0, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In-combination with the grate D, the damper F, located at the inner end of the grate, and arranged to close the draft-flue E, substantially as specified.

. JOSEPH BLUM. Witnesses:

N. O. GRIDLEY,

N. H. SHERBURNE.

d d, fitting loosely against the walls of the fuflue, and are of proper width to form adraftat its lower edge to the lower edge of the side- I pieces d d under the inner end of the grate.

being turned to a vertical position, bringing its upper edge against the lower surface of By this arrangement of grate inconuection 

